TOLDJA! Tom Short Retires From IATSE

As I first reported on Tuesday (see my previous, Is IATSE Prez Tom Short Stepping Down?), the four-term union president has announced his retirement. Short stated: “IATSE has been such an important part of my life. As hard as it is for me to believe that this time has come, I am now prepared to move on. I am not leaving for political reasons or for health reasons, but rather because I have learned that life is short and there is a great deal that I have yet to experience and enjoy.” Short’s future plans have not been announced. His successor will be elected by the IA’s General Executive Board. Said Short in a parting statement, “I have put forth my energy and every effort to enrich this organization and enlisted the help of what I believe to be a phenomenal staff of intelligent, sophisticated and progressive individuals who have stood ready to work hard and assist in accomplishing the goals I believe we had to achieve in order to survive the many challenges facing this International.”In an unusual move, Short began preliminary talks with Big Media’s negotiators AMPTP this summer, more than a year before the IATSE contract expires on July 31st, 2009. But those talks are now “suspended until further notice” when they didn’t reach a resolution for IATSE, which reps technicians, artisans and craftspersons in showbiz, including live theatre, motion picture and television production, and trade shows.

Short has been alternately praised and criticized for his relationships with Hollywood CEOs. Either he’s lambasted for being too in their pocket, or he’s lauded for being able to successfully work with them. Before, during and after the writers strike, Short took up the AMPTP’s cause and blamed the WGA for the repeated breakdown in contract talks even though the moguls reps walked away from the negotiations. (For background, see my previous Bitchslapping Between IATSE & WGA.) Certainly, Short’s membership is hurting from the current stalement in negotiations between SAG and the AMPTP. Yet he’s remained quiet.

Recent Comments

I retired in 2007 after 37yrs. When local 44 had work years ago because they kept the...

Jim Beam

6 years

Good Bye ! You brought our Unions down on their knees- Have another Martini with the CEO's...

crew

7 years

Short is stepping down because he doesn't want to face next year's strike over the crew's inability...

SAN DIEGO, July 31 – Thomas C. Short, President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, announced his retirement here today, at the IA’s mid-Summer General Executive Board Meeting held at the Westin Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp district. A member of the IA for over 40 years, and an elected official for the past 21 years, Short became President in 1994, and stated then that his goals were to make the IA a better organization and to provide the best representation possible for the entire membership in the US and Canada. He has accomplished many of his goals and exceeded more.

During Short’s tenure, the IA has become the largest entertainment union in the world with an increase in membership of more than 50%, covering over 400 Locals and more than 110,000 members in the US, Its territories, and Canada. As a result, the assets of the Alliance have increased to nearly $50 million and allowed the purchase of two buildings located in Toluca Lake, California, and Ontario, Canada. Under Short’s leadership, the union has been restructured to include five Divisions (Stage Craft, Motion Picture and Television Production, Organizing, Trade Show & Display Work, and Canadian Affairs), allowing for greater focus on the needs of various sectors of the membership.

When taking office in late 1994, the International held two term agreements: the Hollywood Basic Agreement and The League of American Theatres and Producers.Since that time the number of term agreements has increased to nearly 2,000, which has resulted in tremendous employment opportunities for IA members. Short also oversaw the establishment of the Individual Account Plan on the West Coast that provides an additional retirement savings to nearly 35,000 members, and increases in the Motion Picture Pension and Health Plans to $5.5 billion, nearly four times above what it was prior to 1995.

Likewise, the IATSE National Benefit Funds headquartered in New York City has reported a net increase in assets of 300% in the Pension Fund since 1994, increased participation three-fold in the Health and Welfare Fund, and tripled the Annuity Fund.

In 1999 after an 81-year absence from the IATSE, Short brought back into the IA fold the 3100-member United Scenic Artists Local 829. And after 32 years the IATSE regained its rightful seat on the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO. The establishment of the IATSE-PAC has helped to engage the union in the political arena in an unprecedented way because of Short’s belief in the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with city, state, and nationally elected officials. The IA has a flourishing relationship with Britain’s BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union), and an affiliation with UNI-MEI (the international media, entertainment and arts organization) which has enabled the Alliance to further engage with labor organizations from around the globe.

During Short’s tenure in office he has been recognized with the Lew Wasserman Spirit of Democracy Award, the DGA Honors Award, the Heart to Heart Award presented by Encore Community Services in New York City, the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s Silver Medallion Award, and the Actor’s Fund Medal of Honor.

Said Short in a parting statement, “I have put forth my energy and every effort to enrich this organization and enlisted the help of what I believe to be a phenomenal staff of intelligent, sophisticated and progressive individuals who have stood ready to work hard and assist in accomplishing the goals I believe we had to achieve in order to survive the many challenges facing this International.”

Thomas C. Short began his IA career in January 1968 when he was initiated into Stagehands Local 27 in Cleveland. He is also a Charter Member of Special Department Local B-27, founded in 1977, as well as having served as its Business Agent. He was elected to serve on the Executive Boards of Stage Local 27 and Studio Mechanics Local 209 of the State of Ohio in 1971, and in 1978 was elected to serve as Local 27’s President.

In August 1988, Short was elected Eleventh International Vice-President of the IA, and in 1993, the General Executive Board elected him to fill the vacated position of General Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. In July 1993, Short was elected to a full two-year term by the delegates to the Centennial Convention in New York City, continuing his tenure as General Secretary-Treasurer. Short has served as President of the IA since December 1994, when he was elected to fill the position after the resignation of the late Alfred W. Di Tolla. Short was re-elected to his first full three-year term as International President in 1995, and has continued to serve in that position since then.

Short stated that he “is extremely proud of these accomplishments and the IATSE has been such an important part of my life. As hard as it is for me to believe that this time has come, I am now prepared to move on. I am not leaving for political reasons or for health reasons, but rather because I have learned that life is short and there is a great deal that I have yet to experience and enjoy.”

Short’s future plans have not been announced. A successor to Short will be elected by the IA’s General Executive Board.

The IATSE is an International Union that represents members employed in the stagecraft, motion picture and television production, trade shows industries as well as a vast number of allied crafts throughout the United States, Its Territories, and Canada.

5 Comments

Na Na Hey Hey - don't let the door hit you • on Jul 31, 2008 1:27 pm

A post on the other thread stated he is happy to see Mr. Short step down due to being antagonistic towrdds the writers Guild during the strike. So true, I feel the same exact way. And, as the other poster said, that leaves only the directors/DGA.

Captain Obvious • on Jul 31, 2008 1:27 pm

I am not leaving for political reasons or for health reasons, but rather because I have learned that life is short and there is a great deal that I have yet to experience and enjoy.

Picture a poster…

Tom Short stands tall, straight, regal, majestic; almost like a bald eagle on a commemorative stamp; replete with all the trappings of WWII poster art.

The poster proclaims:
Life is Short, and Short is Life.

The fine print reads:Paid for by the Committee to Perpetually Re-Elect Tom Short’s Clone.

Short is stepping down because he doesn’t want to face next year’s strike over the crew’s inability to get pay in keeping with the rising cost of living. Crew contacts are going up 1.5 % a year, cost of living almost 5%. Over the last few years, hundreds of Hollywood workers have dropped away as productions lost to tax credits in other states and lower pay contracts have cut incomes in half. The crew guys are already mumbling about striking next year because they just can’t survive on what they’re being paid.

Good Bye !
You brought our Unions down on their knees-
Have another Martini with the CEO’s

Union members will not be crying

Property Master • on Jul 31, 2008 1:27 pm

I retired in 2007 after 37yrs. When local 44 had work years ago because they kept the membership balanced and greed was’nt the order of the day! the industry was good. In 2007 after finishing a stint on eastwoods flick I decided…. listening to the crews…. to pack it. It was now two guys doing all the set dressimg (which should have been crew of 4) the lead man and set decorator sat in an office with the art director and no longer worked in the field they just hired a “buyer” to bring them pics to look at. the crews were being cut to 8 and skate and don’t be late. The crawl on any TV show had at lease 52 million ass-so-sh-it producers and line producers who were hired from who knows where they didn’t know 4 ought from a 750K…………whew I did a last call on a show and after they wore out ole Ed Ansner from numerous shots….on the last take just before the director was going to print I spoke up and said “we need another one” as the large light in the background had burned out…..and everyone looked at each other in amazment the script soup was lost A&B camera looked stumped and the gaffer was a mile away talking to the DP……….the line producer didnt have a clue..gee glad I was on the set paying attention……..As time slowed down I said to my self man it sure isn’t like working with Aron Spelling….I just have to get out of this job….like short not for health or anything else because guys it’s just not like it used to be…..a great Job…..I love hollywood…..the’re all nuts!